2021 Cadillac XT5 vs 2022 Jeep Compass

Cadillac had been working to restore its reputation for refinement, and the 2021 XT5 was a testament to that effort. The XT5, updated in 2020 with 40 enhancements, carried over those improvements into 2021. It featured a more snub-nosed exterior with distinct trim level differentiations, standard LED lights, and 20-inch wheels. Inside, the XT5 offered a more upscale design compared to its GM sibling, the Chevrolet Blazer, with cut and sewn leather, natural wood, and carbon fiber accents, especially in the Premium Luxury trim.

The 2022 Jeep Compass, while receiving exterior updates and new wheel designs, retained much of its look from the 2017 redesign. The High Altitude trim, with its 19-inch multi-spoke wheels, presented an upscale appearance. Inside, the Compass saw significant improvements with a new dashboard design, updated digital instrumentation, and luxury-grade leather seats. The High Altitude trim, in particular, offered a more premium feel with features like a dual-pane panoramic sunroof and a redesigned center console.

The 2021 Cadillac XT5 was available in Luxury, Premium Luxury, and Sport trims. The Luxury and Premium Luxury trims came with a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine producing 237 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. An upgrade to a 3.6-liter V6 engine, delivering 310 horsepower and 237 pound-feet of torque, was available for the Premium Luxury trim and standard on the Sport trim. Both engines were paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission. The V6 provided smooth upshifts but was clunkier when downshifting. The XT5 achieved about 25 mpg in AWD during testing, better than the EPA-estimated 21 mpg combined for the V6. The base engine offered 23 mpg combined with FWD and 21 mpg with AWD.

The 2022 Jeep Compass came with a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine, producing 177 horsepower and 172 pound-feet of torque. This "Tigershark" engine, paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission for AWD models and a six-speed automatic for FWD models, lacked the power and refinement of its competitors. The transmission was reluctant to downshift, leading to a busy and unrewarding powertrain character. The Compass averaged 23.8 mpg in combined driving, slightly below the EPA's estimate of 25 mpg. The Compass High Altitude trim featured Jeep Selec-Terrain with Auto, Snow, and Sand/Mud modes, and an 8.1-inch ground clearance for light off-roading.

The 2021 Cadillac XT5 offered seating for four adults in two rows, with a three-seat bench in the second row. The back seat had limited headroom for tall occupants, but legroom was adequate. The front seats, though visually appealing, were not comfortable for long trips. The XT5 provided 30 cubic feet of cargo space, less than some competitors, but benefited from a deep rear cargo area. Small-item storage was limited, with no good place for a smartphone and small map pockets.

The 2022 Jeep Compass, positioned between the Renegade and Cherokee, offered enough space for four adults and their luggage. The High Altitude trim featured eight-way power-adjustable front seats with heating and ventilation, a heated steering wheel, and heated rear seats. The Compass had a dual-pane panoramic sunroof and a redesigned dashboard with a new Uconnect 5 infotainment system. The cargo area offered 27.2 cubic feet behind the rear seat and 59.8 cubic feet with the rear seat folded down, exceeding the capacity of the more expensive Cherokee.

The 2021 Cadillac XT5 featured a streamlined infotainment system with an 8-inch touchscreen housed in Piano Black plastic. The system included one-touch phone pairing, an eight-speaker Bose sound system, wireless charging, and USB-A and USB-C ports. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard, with a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot and a 14-speaker Bose Performance Series sound system available. A rear camera mirror and a head-up display were also available, enhancing the driving experience.

The 2022 Jeep Compass introduced the Uconnect 5 infotainment system, which was five times faster than the previous version. It came with an 8.4-inch touchscreen, upgradeable to a 10.1-inch screen, and supported wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Amazon Alexa. The system offered over-the-air updates, a navigation system, connected services, a WiFi hotspot, and a wireless charging pad. The voice recognition system was fast and accurate, though it had some limitations in finding specific locations.

The 2021 Cadillac XT5 included front automatic emergency braking, forward-collision warning, rear cross-traffic alert, and lane-change alert with side blind-zone alert. Night Vision technology enhanced nighttime drivability, and Teen Driver software allowed parents to monitor and limit vehicle features for young drivers. A rearview camera and rear-seat reminder were standard.

The 2022 Jeep Compass came with forward-collision warning with pedestrian and cyclist detection, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assistance, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. Highway Assist, combining adaptive cruise control and lane-centering assistance, was to be added later in the model year. The Compass also offered a parking assistance system and a 360-degree camera. However, the forward-collision warning system occasionally gave false positives, and the adaptive cruise control struggled with the engine's performance.